Reducing Cognitive Load on Your Listener
During an interview, our ability to communicate effectively is paramount. In this blog post, we'll explore practical strategies to streamline your communication style and create a more engaging and impactful experience during your interview.
In this piece, I cover:
Sharing your thought process
Harness the Power of Frameworks
Less is More
Active Listening
The Role of Empathy
Non-Verbal Communication
Share Your Thought Process
Sharing your structure in an interview reduces the cognitive load on your listener. And it has the added benefit of letting them know your intention if it takes you longer to get at something they want to hear. And it keeps you organized to reduce the odds you get lost in your own thoughts.
When it comes to interviews, sharing your thought process is not just a nice-to-have—it's essential. By articulating your thinking, you demonstrate connection and clarity. When you share your thought process, you get out ahead of the interviewer’s questions. You show them you are connecting the dots and not just rambling with the first thought that comes to your mind.
Moreover, sharing your thought process helps you stay focused and organized. It showcases your problem-solving skills and allows you to communicate your ability to think critically and strategically.
Remember, as Product Managers, we are not just thinking about the user demographics, but also what truly drives and motivates them. Understanding their pain points and perspectives is crucial for effective communication.
Harness the Power of Frameworks
Presenting a high-level framework can provide structure and clarity in interviews. (It also works well during meetings and client interactions.) Frameworks guide the conversation and demonstrate your ability to think critically and strategically. Remember, simplicity triumphs over complexity.
Warning: Don’t sound “Frameworky”
However, it's important to strike a balance between sounding structured and being too framework-focused. Being overly frameworky can sometimes backfire. If you sound as if you are regurgitating a memorized framework, it can tank your interview.
The takeaway is to adapt your framework approach based on the specific context and audience. What works for Meta might be too frameworky for Google.
Clear Communication: Less is More
Reducing cognitive load through clear communication involves various aspects. First and foremost, avoid using jargon, flamboyant words, and complex explanations. Interviewers appreciate clear and straightforward language.
All great communicators have a good sense of what their audience does and doesn't know. If they don’t know, then they ask questions beforehand, to tailor their delivery. This is what you are doing in the clarifying section of an interview.
Speaking concisely and avoiding rambling is another crucial aspect of interview communication. Interviewers, even if they don’t know it, prize impact and efficiency over making more noise. Remember, great communicators say more with fewer words. They know their objective, get to the point, and don't ramble. Think of your words as a valuable currency—make each one count, and don't dilute their meaning.
Active Listening During an Interview
During an interview, we get so focused on answering questions we can forget to ground ourselves and just listen. Actively listen, focus on non-verbal cues, and avoid interrupting during any interview.
It is not uncommon for nerves to interfere with your ability to listen. Stay grounded, if you don’t listen, you might start answering the wrong question. (I have done that more than I care to admit.)
The Role of Empathy
Understanding the needs of your audience plays a significant role in reducing cognitive load. Remember, your interviewer needs to share notes and quickly make a decision. This means, slowing down enough for them to take notes.
While it may sound counterintuitive, when you close out the interview, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the other person and help them feel respected and heard. By asking thoughtful questions about what they need from the person in the role, you gain more intel on their perspective and build empathy.
The Power of Non-Verbal Communication
Before closing out, I want to talk about the importance of non-verbal communication techniques. You can create a positive impression through body language. Using facial expressions and eye contact to engage the listener.
In an interview, this means everything from eye contact to how you hold your arms and the stillness of your body. For some of us, all of these issues will be at play, for some, it is just a matter of correcting one or two.
Making eye contact - which can be challenging with different camera setups in today’s mostly online interview world - is something you can practice when you mock. It is crucial, that even if you just feel as if you are making contact, you will feel better and more confident. As those you mock with if your camera setup is working or not.
Be careful how you hold yourself. Identify your nervous ticks. What do you do when you feel uncomfortable? Do you cross your arms?
And lastly, some of us (me in particular) move too much when we are nervous (or in general). Start recording yourself and asking your mock partners, do I move too much? If so how? And how does it change your impression of me? There are tricks like standing and grounding your feet. Experiment to see what works for you.
One last note on non-verbal cues: Studies have shown that mimicking someone makes them feel more comfortable, that is also a tool you can leverage as well.
Generally speaking, you reduce the cognitive load on your interviewer when you communicate more clearly. Communication includes the words you speak, the structure you leverage, the cadence of your speech, the act of listening and non-verbal communication.
